Professor Ravinder Barn, from the Department of Law and Criminology at Royal Holloway, University of London has been presented with a shield of appreciation from Al-Quds Open University in Ramallah, Palestine.

Professor Ravinder receiving her shield of appreciation

Professor Barn was awarded this accolade for assisting the university with its planned study on children living under occupation in Palestine. Whilst visiting the institution, she presented a lecture on child well-being and offered her advice on how to help and support Palestinian children. She discussed the complex situation of living under occupation in Palestine and the negative impact it has on local children and their well-being.

Professor Barn’s research on child and youth welfare is highly regarded nationally and internationally. She is a member of a 33-nation network on child well-being, known as the ‘Understanding the wellbeing of children Project’ and has previously been involved in studies across India and Italy. Barn’s qualitative approach to her studies includes written exercises, group discussions and one-to-one interviews with the children, encouraging them to draw and physically explain how they are impacted and what is important to them in order to live a normal life.

Professor Ravinder Barn from Royal Holloway, said: “It was a privilege to give a talk at Al-Quds Open University. I am deeply honoured to be invited to work with Palestinian colleagues in this important area of child well-being.”

Professor Amr, President of Al-Quds has thanked Professor Barn for her willingness to cooperate with the university, and for including Palestine as a member of the global network on child well-being.

Professor Barn will continue to work closely with colleagues at Al-Quds on a study of children living under occupation in Palestine.